Adultery Aven Beth Bethaven Beth-aven Beth-a'ven Commit Enter Error Gilgal Guilty Harlot Judah O Oath Offend Play Playest Prostitute Surely Swear Though Trespass Yet
4:15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, [yet] {r} let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto {s} Gilgal, neither go ye up to {t} Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
(r) God complains that Judah is infected, and wants them to learn to return in time.
(s) For even though the Lord had honoured this place by his presence, yet because it was abused by their idolatry, he did not want his people to resort there.
(t) He calls Bethel, that is, the house of God, Bethaven, that is, the house of iniquity, because of their abominations set up there, signifying that no place is holy, where God is not purely worshipped.
4:15 Offend - Commit like sins. Gilgal - Gilgal was chosen by Jeroboam, or by succeeding idolaters for the solemn worship of their idols. Beth - aven - Beth - el, where Jacob lodged, who called it Beth - el, the house of God; but when Jeroboam made it the place for his calf - worship, it became Beth - aven, the house of vanity or iniquity. Nor swear - This is a part put for the whole worship of God, which the prophet warns them not to blend with their idolatries.
4:12-19 The people consulted images, and not the Divine word. This would lead to disorder and sin. Thus men prepare scourges for themselves, and vice is spread through a people. Let not Judah come near the idolatrous worship of Israel. For Israel was devoted to idols, and must now be let alone. When sinners cast off the easy yoke of Christ, they go on in sin till the Lord saith, Let them alone. Then they receive no more warnings, feel no more convictions: Satan takes full possession of them, and they ripen for destruction. It is a sad and sore judgment for any man to be let alone in sin. Those who are not disturbed in their sin, will be destroyed for their sin. May we be kept from this awful state; for the wrath of God, like a strong tempest, will soon hurry impenitent sinners into ruin.
Aven Beth Bethaven Beth-Aven Beth-A'ven Commit Enter Gilgal Guilty Harlot Israel Judah Oath Offend Play Prostitute Surely Swear
Aven Beth Bethaven Beth-Aven Beth-A'ven Commit Enter Gilgal Guilty Harlot Israel Judah Oath Offend Play Prostitute Surely Swear
